The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met twice yesterday to discuss the fast developing situation in Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee presided over both the meetings.
A Prime Minister's Office spokesman said Vajpayee had cancelled his Bhopal tour to be available in Delhi for any further developments that might require the CCS to meet again. MDMK leader Vaiko, whose party is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, called on the Prime Minister before the second meeting of the CCS that began at 6.30 pm. The CCS had also met earlier yesterday morning.
Vaiko is known for his support for the cause of a separate Eelam for ethnic Tamilians within Sri Lanka.
The two CCS meetings took place in the wake of talks of an eventual need for Indian troops to evacuate around 30,000 Lankan soldiers surrounded by the rebel troops of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Sri Lanka. A senior government source did not rule it out, but said it could take place only if and when there was a request from the Lankan government to do so.
The official ruled out any "big announcement" saying the CCS merely reviewed the situation.
He sought to differentiate between Indian `intervention' from a `mediation' and said India had already expressed its willingness to mediate between the Lankan government and the LTTE provided the two sides requested India to do that. India has also pledged humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka. Official sources said that any move by India to evacuate Lankan troops from the Jaffna peninsula, if asked for, would constitute a humanitarian aid to the Lankan government and would not constitute an intervention.
It is understood that both the possibilities were possible only after fighting stopped between the LTTE and the Lankan troops. With the LTTE making big advances every day, the possibility of a ceasefire is seen only in the event of Jaffna falling to the LTTE.
The main opposition Congress yesterday said that only the government was in a position to take a decision on what role India could play in Sri Lanka. Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi said only government was privy to all facts relating to developments in the island country and, therefore, in a position to take a decision.
At the same time, the party wants the government to take at least the main Opposition party into confidence before taking a decision on Sri Lanka.
